Breech-loading gun.



E. BOURDBLLES.

BREEGH LOADING GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MARZO, 1914.

ya muy f l THE :vumrm HETERS C0, PHUTCLLITHO., wAsHlNGrom. a. :.2

EMILE IB()'URDEILLES,4 GF PARIS,

FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T0 FRANCE, A JOINT-STOCK COLVIPANY.

BREECH-LOADING GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application sied March a0, 1914.

Pat

Serial No. 826,057.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE BoURDnLLrs,

a citizen of the Republic of France, resident of 89 rue Galilee, Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating toBreech-Loading Guns, which is fully set forth in the following spec-incation.

The present invention has for its object a practical embodiment of the breech loading gun of adjustable caliber described in the specification of Patent No. 1,092,763, dated April 7, 1914. The gun described in the said specification is characterized by the fact that a barrel of medium caliber and a barrel of small caliber are combined in such a manner as to furnish an additional recoiling mass during firing. In the construction described in the said specification the small barrel which always remains connected with the barrel of medium caliber is tted into the latter when the said small barrel is desired to be used while it is replaced in a support integral with the barrel of medium caliber when the latter is desired to be used. In this manner although one and the same breech block is used for both barrels, it is necessary to effect a somewhat lengthy operation and to provide inside the barrel of medium caliber screw threads or other fitting and fixing devices for the barrel of small caliber. According to the present invention I avoid thisL disadvantage by arranging the single breech block so that it is displaceable in two housings or guides formed in line with each other in the two barrels in such a manner that according to the position imparted to it by means of suitable operating mechanism, the said block serves to close the breech of the particular barrel that it is desired to employ. In order that thev said invention may be clearly understood' and readily carried into eii'ect I will describe the saine more fully with refer-nce to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a general longitudinal section of the two combined barrels, the movable breech block common to them both being represented in the position for closing the breech of the barrel of medium caliber. Fig. 2 is a similar partial section showing the breech block in the position in which it closes the breech of the barrel of small caliber. Figs. 3 and 4 are rear elevations of Figs. l and 2 respectively.

In these figures, a

fixing means such a SCHNEIDER & CIE., or PARIS,

ented Sept. 8, 1914.

designates the howitzer or gun of medium caliber which comprises two hoops c, c', A housing s the e is provided in the barrel a for a breech block e which can either be held in this housor shifted into formed behind the re integral with a hoop a housing orv guide ar face of the barrel b.

he example illustrated the barrel a is f whose central hole is of a diameter corresponding to the caliber of the projectile and a wedge f can be in a guide in this hoop placed and fixed to limit the traved of the movable block e.

In the example illustrated, the displacement of the block is obtained by the following simple mesh naled in means: The block c carries a rack g with which a pinion /L is constantly in on a shaft z' Jourthe breech end of the gun and carrying externally an operating handle j. housing in the barrel c has a shoulder The for

limiting the downward travel of the block e.

'he two combined barrels arranged in guxtaposition might of course be instead of superposition and similarly in the latter case the relative positions those represented in t What I claim and ters Patent of the l. In combination,

might be the reverse of he drawing.

desire to secure by Let- United States is a double barrel breech loading gun, a rectilinearly movable breech block into closing position 2. In combination, ding gun, breech in the walls of each other, a breech housings adapted to close either adapted to close barrel, and means for said barrels and with means for the breech of either moving said block for either barrel.

a double barrel breech block housings formed in line with block movable in said breech, and aid block into closing rrel.

two gun barrels, one of receiving the second barrel and retaining the same in parallel relation to itself, breech block housings in the walls of said barrels arranged in line with each other a breech block movable in said housings, the breech block either barrel.

4. In combination, of which is provided ing the second barrel in parallel relation and means for moving into closing position for two gun barrels, one with means for receivand retaining the same to itself, breech block housings in the Walls of said barrels arran ed in line with each other, a breech bloc movable in said housings., means for moving the breech block in to closing posi- 5 tion for either barrel, and stops limiting the movement of said block in both directions of movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscriblng witnesses.

EMILE BOURDELLES.

Witnesses:

HANsoN C. CoxE, LOUIS ALARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ilve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

